After the Lahaina Wildfire: The Kalamas Bring a Family Home Back to Life

When the Castillo family moved into their original Lahaina property on the Maui coast in 2000, it was a gathering place for family — aunts, uncles and cousins regularly stopped by throughout the week for dinner and conversation. When wildfires ravaged the island in 2023, the Castillos lost everything. "We were speechless and it was devastating," Joice, the daughter of homeowners Josephine and Reynaldo, remembered. She and her husband, Dierl, called Renovation Aloha's Tristyn and Kamohai Kalama with the goal of rebuilding this home for a fresh start. "A house is so significant in somebody's life," Tristyn said during the episode. "It's security; it's hope. And they lost that. So, it's amazing that they have it again."

Tristyn and Kamohai estimated a rebuild would cost $900,000 — a price they and the family could not afford. After making calls to local nonprofits, they were able to secure funding that would cover construction costs. The Kalamas would handle the interior design.

The original property was 1,200 square feet with four bedrooms and two bathrooms, plus an outdoor space the family routinely used for cooking and lounging. The new house spans 2,100 square feet and includes five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a weatherproof outdoor kitchen. This gives the homeowners more space to host loved ones indoors and out, without losing the surroundings that made their original home so special.

Tristyn and Kamohai hadn't been to Lahaina, Maui, since before the wildfire, and they wanted to help Joice, Dierl, their parents and the rest of the family rebuild their lives in this beloved community. Besides getting funding for the construction of the home, the Kalamas were also able to get donations for landscaping, including fruit trees and palms. Then, they repaid the favor by planting new trees in the community themselves.

On the ground floor of the home, an open kitchen features two-toned custom cabinetry alongside yellow and gold detailing. The owners asked for a mix of traditional and modern touches, alongside lots of friendly color.

Tristyn intentionally designed the kitchen to feature ample seating for the family, while still offering an intimate ambiance for when Josephine and Reynaldo dined alone. Josephine asked for the palette to include yellow, which was a shade Tristyn had never worked with before. It appears prominently in the backsplash.

Josephine said her new living room looks like a hotel. Thanks to a serene palette and plenty of seating, the family has a new place to get together every night of the week.

The living room and kitchen are connected, making it easy for the homeowners to entertain. The colorful pillowcases were donated.

This is one of three bathrooms in the home — all of which were designed with complementary touches. A palette of yellow and green ties in with the homeowner's request for color while also complementing the views outside. The marble in the shower is consistent with the hues and veining in the kitchen backsplash. "It's a beautiful blend of modern and traditional," Tristyn said.

Since Josephine and Reynaldo are the heads of a very large family, they have four guest rooms on the second floor of their home. Tristyn used the same natural yet punchy color palette to make these spaces feel inviting.

In one of the guest rooms, a color combination of blue and green coordinates with the landscape and ocean outside. The palm motif on the pillows is a given.

Grandchildren can sleep restfully in a space that's designed just for them, complete with colors and accessories that are more whimsical than the rest of the home.

In the primary suite, Tristyn incorporated color and pattern with a wallpaper backdrop that coordinates with the textiles and linens. This was her solution for adding personality while still making the room feel restful. After two years without a comfortable place to rest, the new primary suite is a serene hideaway for the homeowners. Plus, it's on the ground floor, so Josephine and Reynaldo can age in place.

With money from donations, the Kalamas were able to rebuild one of the most vital gathering spots of the home: the outdoor deck, which overlooks the ocean.

Now, homeowner Reynaldo can cook for his family in the new outdoor kitchen, which the Kalamas designed to withstand the island weather.